Ministry of Minority Affairs
Minority Act
With the notification of the Jammu & Kashmir Reorganization Act, 2019 No.34 of 2019 , the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992 as applicable in other parts of the country has also been extended to the UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The abolition of Article 370 has removed the obstacles in the path of progress and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir and Leh-Ladakh. 170 Central laws , which were not applicable earlier, have now been made applicable in this region. Out of the 334 State laws, 164 laws have been repealed and 167 laws have been adapted, according to the Indian Constitution.
Now people of Jammu & Kashmir and Leh- Ladakh are also able to take the benefits of many important Acts like The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act,2009, The Representation of People Act,1951, The National Commission of Women Act,1990, The Protection of Human Rights Act,1994, The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act,2005, The Delimitation Act,2002, The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, The Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribes  Act,1989, The Right to Information Act, 2005, The Aadhar  Act 2016, The Muslim Personal Law, The Muslim Women  Act,1986 etc. In so far as the Acts which were implemented to protect the interests of every section of the society including Minorities which are also now applicable to Jammu & Kashmir are, National Commission for Minorities Act 1992, The Waqf Act 1995 and The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutes Act, 2005, etc. Besides, other socio-economic reforms are also now implemented after abolition of Article 370.
After abolition of Article 370, the people of Jammu-Kashmir have also become an equal partner of development process. The people of Jammu-Kashmir have also been immensely benefitted from various welfare schemes of the Central Government, some of the prominent benefits accrued to the people are listed below:
- Prime Minister’s Development Package of Rs 80,000 Crore, to strengthen the Socio-economic infrastructure and for the development of Jammu & Kashmir. After the reorganization of the erstwhile State, 53 projects of Rs 58,477 Crores in Jammu & Kashmir are under progress.
- As per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the UT of Jammu & Kashmir has been sanctioned a grant of Rs. 30,757 Crores during 2020-21.
- For the people living in areas adjoining the international border, a provision of 3% reservation in jobs and educational institutions has been effected.
- After the reorganization of UT of Jammu & Kashmir, elections of Gram Panchayats and Zila Panchayats were conducted successfully. Block Development Council elections were held for the first time with a voter turnout of 98.3 %. There were record participation in the recently held District level elections as well. The above successful conduct of elections symbolizes the strengthening of democratic institutions and the peoples participation in democratic process.
- About 1.77 lakh people from poor classes have been given free medical treatment in Jammu & Kashmir under “Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Scheme”. “PM Kisan Scheme” has benefitted more than 12 lakh farmers of Jammu-Kashmir. “Saubhagya Scheme” has benefitted 3,87,501 people, “Ujjwala Scheme” 12,60,685 people, “Ujala Scheme” 15,90,873 people. A total of 8,88,359 people have benefitted from various social security schemes. 1.34 lakh houses have been constructed under PM Awas Yojana .
- Out of 50 newly sanctioned colleges, 48 colleges have been made operational with around 6,700 students.
- 7 new medical colleges were operated/approved; also, 5 new Nursing colleges were approved.
- IIT Jammu got its own campus and the work of AIIMS, Jammu has also started.
- The protection of rights of the women marrying outside Jammu & Kashmir, as well as their children, has been ensured.
This information was given by the Union Minister for Minority Affairs Shri Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.